Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

In Ezekiel 34:13 the Lord, through the prophet Ezekiel, tells the Jewish people that He will find them wherever they were scattered and bring them into the land that He had promised to give them in the last days.

As we approach our devotional extended reading for today, in Ezekiel 36, we see that the Lord tells the Prophet to speak, to "prophesy", to the land, the land that He had promised to give to the Jews.

As we read this passage, verses 6 and 7, we see what the Lord says to the land. He speaks to the land that had "born the shame of the heathen", and tells of the destruction of the land that God has designated for His use and land that He will give to His "chosen people", the Jewish people, forever.

The Lord tells the land, the land on the earth He created, to yield fruit to the people of Israel, His people, verse 8. The land is to be productive and allow the men who He will multiply on the land of Israel, to turn the wasteland into a very fertile piece of real estate, verses 9 and 10.

The Lord even promises the Jews that the land they return to in the last days will be better than it was in the days of their forefathers, verse 11. By doing these things, for the Jews, with His promised land, they shall know that He is the Lord and they shall turn to Him.

Each year, around May 14, the Jewish people celebrate the "birthday" of the Jewish State of Israel and the productivity of the land He has given these Jewish people. This celebration of God's work in fulfilling His promises about the "land of Israel" has been a witness to the entire world.

There is additional information about the land and the Jewish people in verses 12-21. Please read these verses and rejoice with what the Lord is going to do. As you read these verses, remember, the land of Israel and the Jewish people are inseparable.

As we close our devotional reading for today, notice what the Lord reveals to the prophet Ezekiel. In verse 22 the Lord tells the Jews why they have been given this land in these days. It is not because the Jews have become obedient to God's Word or that they have done anything to honor Him and follow His will.

The reason God has given the Jews this land, at least a portion of what He has promised them, is because of "His Holy names sake", verse 22. When the Lord could swear by nothing greater He swore by His name that He would give the land to the Jewish people in the last days.

It's not because of Israel or Judah that the Lord does what He does, but for "His Holy names sake". By the way, that is why He does anything for each of us, as well, for "His Holy names sake".

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for keeping Your word and promises to me even though I am unworthy. You are an awesome God.